"I am here today because the Defense Performance Review is one of my highest
priorities as Secretary of Defense. I am behind the efforts to reinvent
government 100 percent. It is critical that we earn back the public's trust;
and that we take charge of the changes that need to be made at the Department.
The readiness and effectiveness of our forces down the road depends on it,"
said Secretary Perry.

The objective of the conference is to help representatives improve the more
than 70 DoD Reinvention Labs and other reinvention efforts through the transfer
of new ideas and lessons learned. The conference will consist of two days of
expert presentations and interactive panel discussion sessions.

A Reinvention Laboratory is an activity that addresses a DoD-wide system, or is
a major activity that fosters excellency by integrating the four guiding
principles of the NPR throughout its organization and by creating the culture
of an entrepreneurial organization. The key NPR principles are:

. Cutting Back to Basics -- focusing on its core mission;

. Putting Customers First -- developing systems and people fully capable of
providing world class, goods, and services;

Another indication of DoD's commitment to the Reinvention Labs efforts is seen
in the participation of the Service Chiefs, as well as Dr. Elaine Kamarck,
senior policy advisor to the Vice President at the Reinvention Laboratory
Conference.